Standard Common Name

Blackspot Anglerfish

Alternative Name/s

Butler’s Frogfish

Identification

The Blackspot Anglerfish has a stout body with variably developed skin filaments. Its colouration can range from pale grey to greenish or brown with various markings on the head and sides. Its has tall dorsal, anal and caudal fins.

The pectoral fins are 'arm-like', the rays can be moved individually, allowing the fish to grasp objects and to splay the rays when moving over the bottom. The fish in the image was caught because it was holding on to the plastic mesh of a crab pot using its pectoral fins.

Size range

The species grows to about 10 cm in length.

Distribution

It is a benthic species that is found in tropical inshore and coral reef waters of Papua New Guinea and Australia.

In Australia it is known from the central coast of Western Australia, around the tropical north of the country and south on the east coast to southern Queensland.

The map below shows the Australian distribution of the species based on public sightings and specimens in Australian Museums. Source: Atlas of Living Australia.